Mexican Food Glossary

Al Pastor
Made with marinated and sliced meat. Literally, "in the style of the shepherd."
Arroz
Rice.
Buñuelo
A thin fried pastry finished with a sweet topping.
Burro/Burrito
A large flour tortilla filled with meat, cheese, or beans.
Camaron
Shrimp.
Carne Asada
Pieces of thin-cut beef that is grilled. Literally, "roasted meat."
Carnita
A dish made with small pieces of pork.
Chalupa
A thick boat-shaped corn tortilla fried and filled with other ingredients. In Mexico, a chalupa is a small canoe.
Charro Beans
Simmered pinto beans with a bacon flavoring, mixed with onions and tomatoes. Charros are Mexican cowboys.
Chile Con Queso
A melted cheese dip flavored with mild green chilies.
Chile Relleno
Cheese-stuffed mild green chilies, battered and fried until the outside is crisp and the cheese inside is melted. Literally, "stuffed peppers."
Chimichanga
A burrito that is sealed closed and fried till crisp.
Chimichurri Sauce
A spicy oil-and-vinegar-based garlic sauce, usually green but sometimes red, often used as a marinade.
Chipotle
Dried, smoked jalapeño chilies.
Chorizo
A Mexican sausage made with ground pork and spicy seasonings.
Decebrada
Shredded meat, usually beef.
Enchilada
A tortilla dipped in chili sauce, then filled with meat or cheese, rolled up, and baked. Usually served topped with salsa and cheese.
Ensalada
A salad.
Fajita
Meat brought to the table on a metal platter, sizzling loudly, with tortillas and condiments served on the side.
Flan
A rich custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top.
Flauta/Flautita
A small corn tortilla that has been stuffed with meat or beans, then sealed and deep-fried until crisp. Literally, "flute".
Guacamole
A dish made from mashed avocado and lime or lemon juice, with onions, chilies, and seasonings added. Often used as a condiment in Mexican dishes.
Jalapeño
A medium-hot green chili pepper.
Margarita
A cocktail made with tequila, an orange-flavored liqueur, and lime juice.
Marisco
Seafood.
Masa
Dough made from dried corn.
Mexican Rice
White rice roasted in a skillet with garlic and onions until light brown, then steamed or simmered with tomato sauce and chicken stock.
Mole
A spicy, rich sauce consisting of nuts, seeds, spices, chilies and a small amount of chocolate.
Nachos
Crisp tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and chopped chilies. Invented in 1943 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya in Piedras Negras, Mexico.
Pescado
Fish.
Pico de Gallo
An uncooked tomato, onion, and chili relish. Literally, "beak of the rooster."
Poblano
A large mild green chile. Poblanos originated in the Mexican state of Puebla.
Pollo
Chicken.
Quesadilla
A flour tortilla filled with meat and cheese, folded in half, and toasted.
Queso
Cheese.
Ranchero Sauce
A spicy tomato-based sauce that includes onions, green chilies, and seasonings.
Refried Beans
Cooked red or pinto beans that are mashed, then fried.
Salsa
A spicy tomato-based sauce used to dip or to accent dishes.
Sincronizada
A grilled sandwich of cheese and other ingredients between two tortillas.
Sopa
Soup.
Sope
A small circle or bowl of fried masa topped with some type of filling and a garnish or cheese.
Suizo
A creamy white sauce. Literally, "Swiss."
Taco
A corn tortilla filled with meat, cheese, or beans.
Tamale
Corn masa encasing some type of filling, usually pork. Traditionally steamed in corn husks. Don't eat the husks!
Tortilla
A thin, round unleavened bread made of either corn flour or wheat flour and baked on a griddle.
Tostada
A toasted tortilla topped with meats, beans, or cheeses.

 
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